IOM Urges Thailand to Enhance Safe and Flexible Labour Migration Pathways

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has called on the government to simplify and strengthen its labour migration framework to better support economic growth, reduce reliance on irregular migration and uphold the principles of safe, orderly and regular migration.

In a newly released policy paper, the IOM highlighted that Thailand is home to one of the largest migrant worker populations in Southeast Asia, primarily from Myanmar, Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Migrant workers play a vital role in industries such as construction, agriculture and manufacturing.

According to the IOM, the number of migrant workers registering through Thailand’s in-country registration system has surged by 60 per cent, from 1.5 million in 2020 to over 2.4 million as of August 2024. Meanwhile, the number of workers arriving via formal bilateral agreements has dropped dramatically, from 1 million to approximately 600,000 during the same period.

“This shift reflects both the high costs and administrative complexity of the bilateral recruitment system and the changing situations in countries of origin, particularly Myanmar,” said Géraldine Ansart, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Thailand. “The in-country registration process now accounts for more than 80 per cent of all registered migrant workers in the country.”

Despite the success of the scheme, the IOM report identifies significant challenges. While more than 3 million migrants and 600,000 employers have benefitted from the in-country registration process since 2020, up to 70 per cent of eligible migrants still face obstacles completing the procedure. These include frequently changing requirements, recruitment-related expenses and limited access to clear information.

The policy review revealed that some migrant workers pay up to ten times the official cost to regularise their status, with total expenses reaching as much as THB 125,000. Employers who adhere to the Employer Pays Principle, which mandates that all recruitment-related costs be borne by the employer, often face unofficial charges of up to THB 3,500 per worker to expedite processing.

To address these issues, the IOM recommends simplifying the regularisation process, introducing strict regulations on recruitment fees and strengthening protection mechanisms for migrants. The report also urges Thai employers to adopt robust labour migration management systems, including clear corporate policies, human rights due diligence and access to remedy channels for migrant workers.

“Migrant workers are crucial to Thailand’s sustainable development, especially as the country’s workforce continues to shrink,” said Ansart. “Thailand has shown regional leadership by expanding regular migration channels during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”

“With shifting political and economic conditions across the region, Thailand now has a strategic opportunity to further enhance access to legal and safe migration pathways that align with national labour needs and policy goals,” she added.

The IOM’s recommendations aim to ensure that migration to Thailand becomes not only safer and more regulated, but also more responsive to the needs of both migrants and the Thai economy.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-01.